Safeguard = Anti-Zapdos?

[Nightmare]

I hear a lot of people complaining about Zapdos decks, but why don't people just play the Safeguarders (Altaria, Ninetales) on Zapdos? They totally make Legendary Ascent useless and only cost 1 to retreat should something else come out.

I did it to one person and it worked out decently well, thought I'd pass it on. After all, Zapdos IS an EX and has some bit of a retreat cost.

-James

[metagross]

1) I can kill your safeguard pokes with Manetric (who OHKOs everything with strength charm) or Electrode
2) Even if you would beat Zapdos, you would most likely lose to other decks, so you wont make the cut anyway

[Nightmare]

1) I can kill your safeguard pokes with Manetric (who OHKOs everything with strength charm) or Electrode
2) Even if you would beat Zapdos, you would most likely lose to other decks, so you wont make the cut anyway

Kill 1, but kill 3? I haven't seen it done yet.

More than one person has killed 1, usually to swap with something else and to be hit back.

-James

[metagross]

I run 3 Manetrics. It is enough to OHKOs 3 of Safeguards and more unless you can OHKO me back everytime.

[Daddiursa]

I have updated my daughters Zap-Turn-Dos deck specially to deal with Safe-Guard pokemon... I've added 3 Space Center for Wobbuffet and 2 Warp Points to "stall" while powering up or waiting for a Manetric (which used to be an Electrode). Very few ppl play Altaria and Dewgong, so they are not really an issue. Ninetales is used in maybe 1 out of 25 decks where we play regularly, so that too isn't that scary, but I have seen Zapdos loose to it b/c of the ascention attack on Vulpix gets it out so quick...

[Nightmare]

Metagross:

Would you risk losing a Manectric and all your energies to something else (like a sweeper or a Tombed Pidgeot?)

Not to mention I run other things in the deck (ATM Rock, Warp Point), and a few other things.

Not saying it's invincible, but the last person who ran Zappy/Pidgeot had a lot of trouble even with Quick Search. So, I still say it's a safe bet.

Daddiursa:

Vulpix Ascension = EVIL. I did that to a player with a Rocket's Sneasel EX with another Ninetales so he couldn't WP the Ninetales out.

-James

[Dro~]

Correct me if I'm wrong. Isn't the point of zapdos to be able to deal 70 damage in turn2? If you have a safeguard pokemon out, it can ruin this strategy and stall for a few turns.

[metagross]

yes but half of the times you will have elecktrike with 3 energies active turn 2. Sometimes you will ahve Manetric DX as well, so you can deal 70 damage with him to deal with like Safeguard pokes. then drop zappy and kill the rest.

[ComeBackKid]

Exactly, that is why Manetric is such a good card for this deck. It gives you other options besides getting out zapdos turn 2. You can now use Manetric as a main hitter for a while and then switch over at whatever time you want.

[Dro~]

You're right, safeguard is useless, but wonder guard should stop it. :D

[DarkJake]

if the guy played pidgeot in zapdos he deserves to lose anyway.

Manactric pwns you

Electrode pwns you

I play both in my ZapDOS. I win. ;x

[GrandmaJoner]

That's why Zapdos uses Space Center -_-